# What did the FAB achieve in its first season, 2024/25? Topic: Fan Engagement The club's own [Fan Engagement Plan 2025/26](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/75f10790-6e1e-11f0-afaf-13f7c159fe38.pdf) credits six changes to supporter feedback through the FAB in 2024/25. The minutes show how each came about, and record a good deal more that the board raised, pushed or helped shape in its first season. This is that record. ### The six changes the club reported to the EFL - **Flexi tickets.** The FAB proposed a flexi ticket at its [July 2024 meeting](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/573e3070-9d2c-11ef-8591-b3f04a7be303.pdf), and the club agreed to look at 5-game and 10-game options. When a Saturday-only season ticket was suggested in [October 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae23dfa0-b7cd-11ef-a942-355e2000fd42.pdf) the club explained why that model fails elsewhere and confirmed flexi tickets would launch shortly. By [April 2025](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/b390dcb0-3570-11f0-a020-bd0d915a582a.pdf) the club acknowledged the flexi ticket had been added because of FAB feedback. - **Information for away fixtures.** A supporter asked through the FAB for the same pre-match information for away games as for home games. The Head of Ticketing agreed in [July 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/573e3070-9d2c-11ef-8591-b3f04a7be303.pdf) to obtain it from away clubs via the Supporter Liaison Officers, and in [August 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/57449910-9d2c-11ef-81ef-6d20e5914953.pdf) committed to gathering accessibility information from away clubs after reports of disabled supporters struggling with drop-off points. - **Accessible commentary.** Headset commentary quality was raised at the [first meeting of the season](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/573e3070-9d2c-11ef-8591-b3f04a7be303.pdf); by [August 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/57449910-9d2c-11ef-81ef-6d20e5914953.pdf) the club had switched the feed to the local hospital radio, which the FAB confirmed had resolved it. - **Stoma-friendly toilets.** Following a supporter's approach and a meeting with Colostomy UK, three accessible toilets had been made stoma-friendly by [October 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae23dfa0-b7cd-11ef-a942-355e2000fd42.pdf), with a commitment to roll the change out to the rest. - **Accessibility passports.** Introduced during the season so that supporters with hidden disabilities can show stewards that reasonable adjustments are needed; 13 had been issued by [October 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae23dfa0-b7cd-11ef-a942-355e2000fd42.pdf). The FAB has since asked for a smaller card and for needs to be recorded once rather than explained each visit. - **Independent fan survey.** Run by a supporter group in the last month of the season, with the results shared with the club to act on for 2025/26 ([minutes of 13 May 2025](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/fdc313a0-503e-11f0-b295-8907a4100178.pdf)). ### Other things the FAB did in 2024/25 - **Safe standing.** The club formally consulted the FAB in [November 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/8fdc9f60-bd62-11ef-9962-afabe92d70b0.pdf) on 500 rail seats in the Ponty End and a matching 500 in the away end. The FAB pressed for clear communication to affected season ticket holders and for sight lines from the disabled area to be protected; the rails went in during April 2025 ([minutes of 18 March 2025](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/9b135860-2a72-11f0-b316-3d917fca0cba.pdf)). - **Catering.** The FAB raised price rises, unclear offers, long queues in the East Stand upper and the lack of low-level counters for wheelchair users at its first meetings ([minutes of 21 August 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/57449910-9d2c-11ef-81ef-6d20e5914953.pdf), [minutes of 18 September 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae2fed90-b7cd-11ef-8b79-f79543cff882.pdf)). The club committed to look at staffing and product knowledge with the catering manager, to a QR-code ordering system, to low counters in the second phase of the stadium works, and to a signage refresh on every kiosk for 2025/26 ([minutes of 13 May 2025](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/fdc313a0-503e-11f0-b295-8907a4100178.pdf)). - **The fan zone.** The club presented its two fan zone designs to the FAB in [November 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/8fdc9f60-bd62-11ef-9962-afabe92d70b0.pdf) and the FAB fed in accessibility requirements: step-free access, low counters and contrasting signage were confirmed in [April 2025](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/b390dcb0-3570-11f0-a020-bd0d915a582a.pdf). - **Away travel.** The FAB got the club to explain and publicise its coach subsidies, including the reduced official coaches and the £5-a-head support to supporters' clubs for the Manchester United trip ([minutes of 18 September 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae2fed90-b7cd-11ef-8b79-f79543cff882.pdf), [minutes of 16 October 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae23dfa0-b7cd-11ef-a942-355e2000fd42.pdf)), and questioned coach pricing against independent operators ([minutes of 21 August 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/57449910-9d2c-11ef-81ef-6d20e5914953.pdf)). - **Residents and parking.** Complaints from Oakwell residents about matchday parking and unsafe driving on side streets were brought to the club in [December 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/5e8a62c0-da6e-11ef-afb5-71ee6c78fa0b.pdf) and followed up with the traffic management contractor in [January 2025](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/5e927910-da6e-11ef-bbe4-c3aacd113428.pdf). - **The club website and iFollow.** The FAB flagged the poor accessibility of the new EFL-built club website and the loss of full-match replays on iFollow; the Chief Executive took both up with the EFL ([minutes of 17 July 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/573e3070-9d2c-11ef-8591-b3f04a7be303.pdf), [minutes of 21 August 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/57449910-9d2c-11ef-81ef-6d20e5914953.pdf), [minutes of 18 September 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae2fed90-b7cd-11ef-8b79-f79543cff882.pdf)). The FAB also collected supporters' iFollow faults to pass to the club ([minutes of 16 October 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae23dfa0-b7cd-11ef-a942-355e2000fd42.pdf)). - **This website.** The FAB asked for its own page, photos and minutes on the club site in [August 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/57449910-9d2c-11ef-81ef-6d20e5914953.pdf), chased the slow publication of minutes in [September 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae2fed90-b7cd-11ef-8b79-f79543cff882.pdf), and launched fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk in [April 2025](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/b390dcb0-3570-11f0-a020-bd0d915a582a.pdf) so that minutes, FAQs and the submission form are in one place. - **Heritage.** The FAB backed a proposal for a memorial to the club's founder, Reverend Tiverton Preedy, supported the People's Visual History memorabilia project ([minutes of 15 April 2025](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/b390dcb0-3570-11f0-a020-bd0d915a582a.pdf)), and began discussing a memorial garden at Oakwell for supporters to remember loved ones ([minutes of 17 December 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/5e8a62c0-da6e-11ef-afb5-71ee6c78fa0b.pdf), [minutes of 18 March 2025](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/9b135860-2a72-11f0-b316-3d917fca0cba.pdf)). - **Ownership questions.** The FAB gathered supporters' questions about who owns what percentage of the club and put them to the club ([minutes of 16 October 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae23dfa0-b7cd-11ef-a942-355e2000fd42.pdf), [minutes of 15 April 2025](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/b390dcb0-3570-11f0-a020-bd0d915a582a.pdf)). - **Family and community.** The FAB gave feedback on the EFL Family Excellence programme, in which the club won the bronze award for 2024/25 ([minutes of 21 August 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/57449910-9d2c-11ef-81ef-6d20e5914953.pdf), [minutes of 13 May 2025](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/fdc313a0-503e-11f0-b295-8907a4100178.pdf)), helped shape ticket promotions such as bring-a-friend and Kids for a Quid fixtures and the New Year's Day Wrexham game ([minutes of 16 October 2024](https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae23dfa0-b7cd-11ef-a942-355e2000fd42.pdf)), and members laid the club's Remembrance wreath. Not everything moved. Catering prices, car park release times and the fan zone were raised repeatedly without the outcome supporters wanted, and several actions took longer than the FAB would have liked. Those threads continue in the 2025/26 and 2026/27 minutes. ## Related minutes - https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/minutes/2024-07-17.md - https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/minutes/2024-08-21.md - https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/minutes/2024-09-18.md - https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/minutes/2024-10-16.md - https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/minutes/2024-11-20.md - https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/minutes/2024-12-17.md - https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/minutes/2025-01-16.md - https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/minutes/2025-03-18.md - https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/minutes/2025-04-15.md - https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/minutes/2025-05-13.md Source: https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/faq/what-did-the-fab-achieve-in-2024-25